Final answer:
Adam Smith posited that people's self-interest drives decisions that ultimately benefit society as a whole, a process described by the metaphor of the 'invisible hand'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adam Smith believed that individuals make decisions that are driven by their own self-interest. He argued that when individuals act in their own self-interest, they indirectly promote the good of society through economic actions that benefit others, a concept he coined the invisible hand. The Wealth of Nations discusses how individuals seeking to improve their own lives through hard work and enterprise can lead to a more robust economy and general prosperity.